James Tate still banned from prom

Published 10:21 pm, Thursday, May 12, 2011

James Tate speaks to the media about his suspension from Shelton High School and the fame he has received since his story has spread, while at the family's home on Waverly Road in Shelton, Conn. on Thursday May 12, 2011. less

James Tate speaks to the media about his suspension from Shelton High School and the fame he has received since his story has spread, while at the family's home on Waverly Road in Shelton, Conn. on Thursday May ... more

School officials, including Headmaster Dr. Beth A. Smith, hastily walk away from the media after speaking to them about the suspension of student James Tate from Shelton High School in Shelton, Conn. on Thursday May 12, 2011. less

School officials, including Headmaster Dr. Beth A. Smith, hastily walk away from the media after speaking to them about the suspension of student James Tate from Shelton High School in Shelton, Conn. on ... more

This was just some of the media that gathered outside Shelton High School for a press conference in Shelton, Conn. on Thursday May 12, 2011. They were on hand to hear about the decision by school officials about student James Tate's suspension for hanging a sign on the school walls asking a friend to the prom. less

This was just some of the media that gathered outside Shelton High School for a press conference in Shelton, Conn. on Thursday May 12, 2011. They were on hand to hear about the decision by school officials ... more

Students from the lacrosse team talk to the media outside Shelton High School in Shelton, Conn. on Thursday May 12, 2011. The team members were on hand to show their support for fellow student James Tate, who was suspended for hanging a sign on the school walls asking a friend to the prom. less

Students from the lacrosse team talk to the media outside Shelton High School in Shelton, Conn. on Thursday May 12, 2011. The team members were on hand to show their support for fellow student James Tate, who ... more

James Tate speaks to the media about his suspension from Shelton High School and the fame he has received since his story has spread, while at the family's home on Waverly Road in Shelton, Conn. on Thursday May 12, 2011. less

James Tate speaks to the media about his suspension from Shelton High School and the fame he has received since his story has spread, while at the family's home on Waverly Road in Shelton, Conn. on Thursday May ... more

SHELTON -- Despite mounting pressure from city officials, state lawmakers and thousands of supporters on social networking sites, Shelton High School Headmaster Beth Smith Thursday refused to reverse her decision banning senior James Tate from the June 4 senior prom.

Tate was suspended Tuesday and banned from the prom for posting a message Friday on the school building made with cut-out letters asking friend Sonali Rodrigues to be his date.

"I expected it," said Tate of Smith's refusal to reconsider her decision. "I feel like at this point the school had nothing to gain from giving in, but I'm disappointed."

Tate also said he agreed "100 percent" with Mayor Mark A. Lauretti's statement that the punishment doesn't fit the crime.

School officials said what Tate did posed a safety risk and that he -- and two friends who helped him -- had trespassed on school property. His friends also received one-day in-house suspensions.

Smith made a terse statement at a 4 p.m. news conference outside the school reiterating the rules on school suspensions and prom bans.

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Smith, who took no questions from the media, said students were given plenty of warning throughout the year of what the rules were and that no exceptions would be made. Students who receive a suspension after April 1 are banned from prom.

"These communications are intended to remind our students and parents of the high school expectations and consequences. This unfortunate situation is a result of one of those consequences," Smith said in her statement.

Tate's father said his son has to be held responsible for his actions, but he was hoping for a settlement that would have allowed him to still attend the prom.

"She has to keep order and maybe there are concerns she has that we are not aware of," he said about Smith.

"But I would have liked to have seen some compromise that might have made more sense to the community."

Tate said he's very proud of his son. "The whole family is totally TeamTate," he said, referring to the social media movement supporting his son, which has gained widespread support.

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Headmaster Beth Smith's statement:
"There has been a practice at Shelton High School for many years that any student receiving an in-school or out-of-school suspension after April 1 for any reason would not be allowed to attend the prom. This regulation is reinforced over the course of the spring by daily PA system reminders, posted signage in common areas of the building and classrooms, as well as informational letters and automated phone messages to parents. These communications are intended to remind our students and parents of the high school expectations and consequences. This unfortunate situation is a result of one of those consequences."

Lauretti, who spoke with Superintendent Freeman Burr Thursday morning about the issue, said the decision was Smith's to make.

"She made her choice and that's it. So be it," he said.

Asked if he supported her decision, he said, "I'm not there yet." But, he added: "All I can say is she's done a good job and brought stability to the high school, and I hope no one loses sight of that."

But some city officials, like Alderman John "Jack" Finn, were appalled with Smith's decision.

"That's wrong; that's totally wrong," Finn said. "I understand her position and her decision to suspend (Tate), but there was room for a compromise, like having him do community service."

Tate said he tried to negotiate with school officials and offered to do community-type service on the high school campus -- like picking up litter or take a detention instead of suspension, for him and his friends -- but school officials would not budge.

Finn also said the Board of Education should consider reviewing its policy concerning the April 1 deadline.

"The superintendent needs to stop ducking the issue and overrule Dr. Smith and put an end to this fiasco," added Alderman Eric McPherson. "This is a high school, not a military or prison camp. This young honor student should be allowed to go to the prom."

The only comment from Superintendent Freeman Burr was what amounted to a non-statement Wednesday acknowledging he was aware of the worldwide outcry.

"I am aware of the local, state and national media attention surrounding the situation and I have no further comments regarding the matter at this time," Burr said.

No Board of Education members have commented on the matter.

Students attending the press conference were also dismayed by the headmaster's decision.

"I believe Dr. Smith is the only person in America who thinks Tate did something wrong,'' said Colby Nolan, a junior.

Austin Peel, 16, a sophomore, said he was surprised the headmaster's statement was so short.

"I'm surprised she didn't engage in more conversation. But she's too strong-headed,'' he said.

Eric Ercolino, who was suspended for another incident said, "The rules are the rules. There's nothing you can do about it."

Since it first appeared in the Connecticut Post, the story has gone viral on Facebook -- with several pages set up in Tate's support -- and Twitter and has made headlines across the globe. Thousands of people have expressed outrage at Smith's decision.

That outcry prompted state Reps. Jason Perillo, R-Shelton, and Sean Williams, R-Waterbury, to move legislation forward that would require schools to come up with an alternative means of punishment, rather than banning students from school events.

The amendment to House Bill 6499 (An Act Concerning Minor Revisions to Education Statutes) would require schools to come up with alternate punishments such as community service as an option for students.

"The goal is simple: to provide some flexibility and latitude of what punishment could be handed out in situations like this," Perillo said. "The legislation would require boards of education and school administrators to present the option of community service."

Perillo said he was contacted by many people, including dozens of Shelton residents, who were outraged by the Tate incident that he felt he had to intervene. "For me to ignore the outcry would be irresponsible," he said Thursday afternoon.

He was joined during both appearances by Sonali Rodrigues, the friend he asked to the prom. She said yes to his request -- which was taped in block letters to the outside of the school around 1 a.m. last Friday.

Tate even won over his interviewer on "Today" Thursday morning, Matt Lauer. Toward the conclusion of the about five-minute interview, Lauer said that he thinks "calmer heads may prevail," and Tate will be allowed to attend the prom, since the punishment seems "a little out of order with the crime."

But that didn't turn out to be the case.

As of Thursday afternoon, more than 137,400 people "liked" a Facebook-group called "Let James Tate Go to the Prom." And local businesses and another Facebook group are trying to organize an alternative prom for Tate.

While James Tate said that was a "novel idea," he said he would not attend it. His father said he felt there should only be "one prom" -- the school-sanctioned prom.